General Information

Admission Categories
Applications will be processed according to whether an applicant meets all formal admissions requirements, including academic qualification criteria (Standard Admission), or meets all formal admissions requirements except academic qualification criteria (Flexible Admission).

Application Deadlines
All applications, fees, and official supporting documents must be received on or before the application deadline (normally 20 business days prior to the official program start date), though applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

A limited number of seats may be available in each program and upon acceptance, filled on a first come basis. Applications received near the deadline may not be considered for their desired intake if the program is full or there is insufficient time for adjudication. Consequently, all applicants are encouraged to complete their applications as early as possible in advance of the deadline.

Application Fee(s)
Only applications submitted with the required fees will be processed. Applications received without required fee(s) will be held for thirty (30) calendar days and subsequently destroyed. The application fee is non-refundable and will not be credited to the applicant's financial account. For details on application fee(s) visit the Ancillary Fees page.

Note:  For programs starting September 1, 2011 or later, all fees are subject to an increase of 2%.  This includes the application fee.

Minimum Application Requirements*
All applications must include the following:

• Application form;
• Application fee (non-refundable);
• Official transcripts (from all previous and current post-secondary institutions attended).

All graduate program applicants, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in International Hotel Management and undergraduate program flexible admission applicants are also required to submit: 

• Detailed resumé;
• Personal statement or Statement of Intent;
• Two letters of reference.

When applicable:

• If any credentials are not from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution, a recognized third party International Credential Evaluation Report or International Credential Evaluation fee;
• If English is an applicant's second language, an official English Language Proficiency score report or such other evidence of proficiency in English as may be set forth in the entrance requirements of the program to which they are applying;
• Applicants claiming permanent resident or Convention Refugee status in Canada, who are applying to attend a program at Royal Roads University, must show proof of resident status by providing a copy of their Permanent Resident Card (PR Card);
• Any additional requirements as determined by the program.

Applicants with documents which are in a language other than English, must submit official documents in the original language as well as notarized English translations. Transcript documents must indicate the courses studied, grades obtained and credential awarded.

*Exceptions apply to the Doctor of Social Sciences and, in some cases, the Certificate in Environmental Practice.

Please visit Supporting Documents and Document Submission for more details.

Program Specific Requirements
For information regarding program specific structure or content requirements for applicants' reference letters, statements or resume please refer to this link for Program Specific Requirements.

Note:  Academic writing and critical thinking at a graduate level are highly desirable skills to have entering a program and for some programs is a prerequisite. Applicants may want to consider a refresher course if an academic writing and critical thinking course from a recognized post-secondary institution has not been completed within the past 10 years. A completely online eight-week course that meets this recommendation is offered several times a year through Continuing Studies at Royal Roads University:

• Introduction to Academic Writing and Critical Thinking - Continuing Studies

Methods of Communication
Email is used as the primary means of communication between the University and an applicant. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the email address on file with the University is accurate and functioning properly at all times. It is the responsibility of the applicant to check for received emails on a regular basis to avoid missing important updates, admission decisions, and other communications which may affect their application.  Applicants are also encouraged to regularly log into their Prospective Student Account to see a summary of their application.

Requests to Reactivate an Application*
An applicant may submit a written request to reactivate a cancelled or declined application within one year of the file closure. At such time, the Admissions Office will determine if additional documents and/or fees are required to fully reactivate the application and commence with processing.

Applicants who wish to reapply or apply to a different program more than 12 months after their file was closed are required to submit a new application and applicable fee(s), along with updated supporting documents. Transcripts, if previously submitted and still on file with the University, may be used in support of a new application and need not be resubmitted unless additional courses have been completed in the interim.

All applications will be reviewed under current academic regulations, admission requirements, and program requirements. All applications are subject to current tuition/fees.

*Exceptions apply to the Doctor of Social Sciences and, in some cases, the Certificate in Environmental Practice. 

Adjudication (Application Review) 
Applications are adjudicated once all application documentation is complete. Incomplete applications, or those with unofficial documents, may be adjudicated by the Program area (should the Program area choose to do so) but normally only within the four (4) weeks preceding a program’s application deadline. Where unofficial documents are used to adjudicate a file a conditional offer of acceptance may be issued to an applicant. 

During the adjudication process, if documents or information provided are deemed insufficient for a decision, the Admissions Office may request updated information and hold the application until the information is received.  

Meeting the admissions requirements set out by the University does not guarantee admission to a program of study. Royal Roads University reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant and admissions decisions are deemed final.